Polish president approves law to phase out Sunday shopping

Polish president Andrzej Duda has approved a law to phase out Sunday shopping by 2020.

The law was supported by trade unions and by the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), who piloted it through both houses of parliament. The unions see it as a protection of workers’ rights while PiS wants to allow people more time to spend with their families.

Sunday shopping is now restricted in Poland to the first and last Sunday of the month until the end of the year. Next year, it will only be permitted on the last Sunday of the month, until a near total ban comes into force in 2020.

Shops will still be able to open on Sundays before major holidays such as Christmas, and some bakeries and online stores will be exempt.

In a statement issued in November, the Polish bishops’ conference said the bill did not go far enough, and that everyone should be free from work on Sundays.